Motherhood has changed life for the better, whether for athletes or not—it’s a feeling every mother knows! Take Veronica Campbell-Brown, one of the most decorated female athletes in track and field history. An 8-time Olympic medalist, former NCAA track champion with the Razorbacks, and Olympic gold medalist with Jamaica, she’s achieved so much, including 3 Olympic gold medals. Now 42, Campbell-Brown retired in 2021 at the age of 39. Today, she’s an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, philanthropist, mother of two, and former UNESCO ambassador. But the question remains—why did she retire when her dreams weren’t fully realized yet?
“The arrival of Avianna changed my world, but in a good way,” Campbell-Brown shared. This moment came in 2019 when she and her husband Omar welcomed their daughter, Avianna, into the world on February 23, 2019. That’s when life and priorities shifted for the track and field star. Despite the joys of motherhood, many wondered—did that mean the end of her career?
Campbell-Brown returned to the track after her daughter’s birth, but she recently revealed why she ultimately decided to retire months after that. In a recent appearance on the Ready Set Go podcast with hosts Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, she was asked about what keeps athletes going after achieving their goals.
The question was about the Olympic “hangover” and whether achieving her dreams left her fulfilled. Campbell-Brown’s response? She explained how it wasn’t just about reaching her goals but pushing herself even further: “To see what else I could do… I have to set higher goals and continue to reach for them because it’s about maximizing your potential.”
She added, “If you settle for the first taste of victory, you may miss out.” Her words show a constant drive to surpass limits, but she admitted, “Actually, I retired not achieving a lot of my goals in terms of PR, but I’m okay with that because I can look back and say, ‘Okay, I tried my best, I pushed myself, and I’m satisfied.’“
But even with all her achievements, Campbell-Brown shared that her retirement came with some unfulfilled dreams. When asked if she could have balanced motherhood with her career, she reflected on how challenging it had been. “It was tough… having to make sure the babysitter was on time, prepping everything while I went to train. But I did get a taste of what it feels like to have a baby and still compete.”
After juggling motherhood and training, an injury led her to retire after the 2021 trials. On June 23, 2021, she made her retirement official with a statement. In it, she reflected on her journey, overcoming injuries and rejection, and ultimately achieving success in track and field.
Now, Campbell-Brown focuses on motherhood, entrepreneurship with VCB FIT, philanthropy through the Veronica Campbell Brown Foundation, and her work as a motivational speaker! Who would’ve imagined that a girl from rural Jamaica would reach such an extraordinary stage in life?
The story of an 8X- Olympic track and field legend
Veronica Campbell-Brown, now 42, has had quite the journey in track and field. Growing up in rural Trelawney, Jamaica, she found her love for running early on. A teacher spotted her talent and encouraged her to dive into track and field, and that was the start of something amazing. Over the years, Campbell-Brown earned 21 medals across five Olympic Games and seven World Championships.
The post Retiring Due to Injury, 8x Olympic Medalist Makes Honest Confession About Unfulfilled Track and Field Dreams appeared first on EssentiallySports.